'Plebgate' row: Timeline - BBC News BBC News Close share panel Image copyright Dispatches/Channel 4 News Image caption The affair concerns a 45-second encounter between Andrew Mitchell and police officers at the gates of Downing Street Allegations that Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell called some police officers plebs during a row in Downing Street cost him his government job. But the scandal has since embroiled the police in accusations that they have not been sufficiently robust in disciplining officers accused of trying to discredit the MP as part of a campaign to "toxify" his party. BBC News looks back at how the row unfolded. 19 September 2012 Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, then the government's chief whip, has a row with police officers who would not let him cycle through Downing Street's main gate. 20 September 2012 The story is revealed in the Sun newspaper, which reports that he swore at the officers and called them "plebs" who should learn their place. 21 September 2012 Mr Mitchell denies using the word "plebs" but apologises for being disrespectful.

24 September 2012 Mr Mitchell says he wants to "draw a line" under the incident, telling reporters: "I did not use the words that have been attributed to me." But speculation about the exact words he did use continues. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urges him to explain "fully and in detail his version of events". 25 September 2012 A police log of the incident, appearing to confirm previous reports and contradict Mr Mitchell's position, is leaked to the Daily Telegraph. 7 October 2012 Image copyright West Midlands Police Federation Image caption Police representatives associated the row with their campaign against cuts Mr Mitchell remains in his job, but members of the Police Federation wear "PC Pleb" T-shirts at demonstrations against police funding cuts at the Conservative Party conference. 12 October 2012 Three local representatives of the Police Federation meet Mr Mitchell at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office for 45 minutes, telling reporters afterwards that he had still not disclosed the precise words he used in the incident. They criticise him for implying that the Downing Street officers' accounts are not accurate. The chief whip has "no option but to resign", one representative concludes.

17 October 2012 Image caption In a Commons clash, David Cameron said Mr Mitchell should be able to carry on with his job David Cameron tells Parliament that what Mr Mitchell "did and said" was wrong, but since he had apologised and the officer involved had accepted his apology, he should be allowed to get on with his job. But opposition leader Ed Miliband says that, despite the apology, Mr Mitchell is "toast". 19 October 2012 Mr Mitchell resigns, claiming the "damaging publicity" means he can no longer do his job. In his resignation letter to the PM, he writes: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us.' "It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." 16 December 2012 A police constable with the diplomatic protection group is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and suspended from his duties in connection with accounts of the Downing Street incident.

18 December 2012 CCTV footage, broadcast on Channel 4 news, casts doubt on the police officers' version of events. The police log said Mr Mitchell's use of a number of expletives had left members of the public looking on "visibly shocked". But the footage suggests that no-one other than the officers involved were within earshot. Mr Mitchell says he has fallen victim to a "stitch-up". 19 December 2012 Scotland Yard says it is opening an investigation into claims that an officer gave false evidence. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe says: "The allegations in relation to this case are extremely serious. For the avoidance of doubt, I am determined there will be a ruthless search for the truth - no matter where the truth takes us." In the ensuing months, eight people are arrested and bailed under the investigation, codenamed Operation Alice, including five police officers. 7 March 2013 Mr Mitchell launches libel action against the Sun over its reporting of the "plebgate" incident. 19 September 2013 A year after the original incident, former home secretary Jack Straw criticises the "inordinate and unjustified" length of time the investigation has taken.

15 October 2013 Independent Police Complaints Commission deputy chair Deborah Glass says the IPCC disagrees with police chiefs' decision not to hold misconduct hearings on the three Federation officers involved in the October 2012 meeting with Mr Mitchell. Image caption Mr Mitchell has always denied calling the officers "plebs" The IPCC releases a transcript of the meeting - from a recording made by Mr Mitchell - which shows that, while he admitted swearing, Mr Mitchell denied using the word "pleb" or insulting the police. However, after the meeting the three officers said he had refused to elaborate on what had happened and should resign. Home Secretary Theresa May says it would be "quite wrong" to take no action against those officers. The chief constables of their forces say they will welcome the opportunity to appear before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to explain why no action was taken against them. 16 October 2013 David Cameron says Mr Mitchell is "owed an apology" by police over the row. It also emerges that an internal report which ultimately found no misconduct case to answer by the three officers who met Mr Mitchell at his constituency office had initially proposed disciplinary action.

21 October 2013 The three officers, Ken MacKaill, Stuart Hinton and Chris Jones, apologise for their "poor judgement" in talking to the media following their meeting with Mr Mitchell. They say they did not "plan or intend to mislead anyone about what occurred". But friends of Mr Mitchell tell the BBC the statement is "a regrettable non-apology". 23 October 2013 The three Federation officers insist to the Home Affairs Select Committee that they do not owe Mr Mitchell an apology. They say they stand by their "accurate" account of the meeting and Mr Jones says he is "not convinced we have done anything wrong". But the head of West Mercia Police tells the committee the handling of the affair was "clumsy" and the internal report and its recommendations should be independently reviewed. 27 October 2013 Sir Hugh Orde, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, says the conduct of the three officers fell "below that required" and they should apologise. 31 October 2013 Three civilians and five police officers on bail over the plebgate affair are re-bailed to a date in late November.

3 November 2013 The IPCC says it is conducting its own investigation into the conduct of the three Federation officers - Ken MacKaill, Stuart Hinton, and Chris Jones - saying there were "procedural irregularities" in the earlier internal police probe. It also emerges that the trio will be called back before the Home Affairs Select Committee. Its chairman, Labour's Keith Vaz, says MPs were "appalled" by the officers' original evidence and that if they did not "correct the record" they would be in contempt of Parliament. 6 November 2013 Stuart Hinton apologises to the the home affairs committee for an "inadvertent error" in his earlier evidence. He also says he regrets the "distress" felt by Mr Mitchell and his family during the whole saga. Chris Jones, also appearing before the committee, insists he did not mislead MPs over his disciplinary record. 26 November 2013 PC Keith Wallis is charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the incident in an email to his MP. But prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to show an officer in Downing Street lied in his account of what happened.

Separately, the Independent Police Complaints Commission says five members of the Metropolitan Police's Diplomatic Protection Group will face gross misconduct proceedings linked to the subsequent row, meaning they could lose their jobs. The BBC understands that the officer at the Downing Street gates on the night of the incident is not one of the five. 4 December 2013 PC Toby Rowland, the police officer who was on duty at Downing Street, says he is going to sue Mr Mitchell for libel over comments he made to the media following the incident. 16 December 2013 PC Keith Wallis appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the incident. He did not enter a plea. 10 January 2014 PC Keith Wallis admits misconduct. 5 February 2014 Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe meets Mr Mitchell to apologise for PC Keith Wallis's role in the affair. 6 February 2014 PC Keith Wallis is sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Sweeney said Wallis had been guilty of "sustained, and in significant measure, devious misconduct which fell far below the standards expected of a police officer". 26 February 2014 PCs Keith Wallis and James Glanville are sacked for gross misconduct. The Met said Mr Glanville was dismissed for passing information about the incident to the Sun newspaper. 27 April 2014 Image copyright PA It emerges that PC Toby Rowland is seeking up to £200,000 in damages from Mr Mitchell for suggesting he was not telling the truth about the September 2012 altercation by the Downing Street gates. In documents submitted to the High Court, lawyers for PC Rowland justify the claim on the grounds that his reputation has been damaged by Mr Mitchell's remarks and he suffered "great distress, humiliation and upset". 30 April 2014 PC Gillian Weatherley is dismissed for gross misconduct by the Metropolitan Police over leaks to the press about the "plebgate" affair. 21 May 2014 PC Susan Johnson, a Metropolitan Police officer serving with the diplomatic protection group, is sacked for gross misconduct over the press leaks.

6 October 2014 A High Court ruling finds there was no proper final report prepared for the investigation into the three Police Federation officers who met Mr Mitchell. That probe was conducted by West Mercia Police but supervised by the IPCC. The High Court also quashed the IPCC's decision to investigate the case itself. An IPCC spokesman said it "welcomed" the ruling that the decisions of the three police forces had been "invalid" and said it would make a "fresh assessment" of the case. 3 November 2014 The IPCC again says it is to investigate three Police Federation officers over the "plebgate" affair, having re-assessed the case. 17 November 2014 The libel trial involving Mr Mitchell and former PC Toby Rowland gets under way in the High Court in London. Lawyers for Mr Mitchell tell the court that the police spun a "web of lies" that led to a "vitriolic" campaign against their client. 19 November 2014 Musician and aid campaigner Sir Bob Geldof is cited as a character witness for Mr Mitchell, a former international development secretary.

In a written statement submitted to the court, Sir Bob describes Mr Mitchell as a "good man" and "an advocate for the less fortunate", adding that he had never heard him "use the ridiculous and archaic expression 'pleb'". 20 November 2014 A former police officer who was on duty during the "plebgate" incident denies wishing to harm Mr Mitchell or the government. Gillian Weatherley, who was sacked over leaks of alleged details of the row, tells the court that text messages she sent suggesting she could "topple the Tory government" were meant to be sarcastic. 24 November 2014 A police officer who accompanied Mr Mitchell on two foreign trips says the former cabinet minister was "unpleasant until he got what he wanted". Insp Duncan Johnston, who travelled with the then international development secretary in 2011, tells the court Mr Mitchell would "erupt" but later be charming. Separately, two former Conservative whips state in written evidence that Mr Mitchell had been unable to recall the exact words he had used in the days and weeks after the event. 27 November 2014 Former government chief whip Andrew Mitchell loses his High Court libel action.

Mr Mitchell had sued News Group Newspapers over the story in the Sun in 2012 which claimed he called PC Toby Rowland a "pleb". Mr Mitchell acknowledged that he had used bad language but maintained he had not used that word. Delivering his ruling, Mr Justice Mitting said he was satisfied that the MP did say the word "pleb" Tory MP Andrew Mitchell to pay £80,000 damages to Plebgate officer | The Times Welcome to your preview of The Times Subscribe now Tory MP Andrew Mitchell to pay £80,000 damages to Plebgate officer Andrew Mitchell Sean O'Neill and Jenny Booth Last updated at 11:16AM, March 4 2015 Andrew Mitchell will pay £80,000 damages to the policeman he accused of lying about the Plebgate incident in Downing Street, the High Court heard today. The Conservative MP was sued by PC Toby Rowland after accusing the Diplomatic Protection Group officer of making up an account of the clash in which the former chief whip called police “f***ing plebs”. The scandal over the incident forced Mr Mitchell to resign from his government job.

He denied saying the words and claimed police had fabricated parts of the exchange. A major Scotland Yard investigation saw four officers dismissed for leaking to the Subscribe now Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row - BBC News BBC News Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row 20 October 2012 From the section UK Politics comments Close share panel Image caption Mr Mitchell has been under pressure over the remarks for weeks Andrew Mitchell has quit as government chief whip after weeks of pressure over an argument with police officers in Downing Street. The Tory MP has admitted swearing at officers in the incident but again denied calling police "plebs". He told David Cameron - who has stood by him - that "damaging publicity" meant he could no longer do his job. Former Commons leader Sir George Young will be the new chief whip, Downing Street said. Mr Mitchell's resignation is a victory for the Police Federation and Labour who have led calls for him to go. But it spells the end of a 25-year political career for the Sutton Coldfield MP, who was promoted from international development secretary to chief whip in September's cabinet reshuffle. BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell told the prime minister about his decision in person, at Mr Cameron's country residence Chequers.

The prime minister has accepted his resignation. 'Learn your place' In his resignation letter, Mr Mitchell says "it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we both would wish. This is a serious setback for David Cameron as he held onto Mr Mitchell instead of sacking him straight after his angry clash By Nick RobinsonPolitical editor "Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity". He repeats his "categorical assurance" that he did not call police officers "plebs" - as alleged in the police report on the incident. But he adds: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us'. "It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." Mr Mitchell - whose job was to maintain discipline on the Conservative benches - was thrust into the spotlight when The Sun accused him in a front page story of calling police "plebs".

His outburst came after armed police stopped him from cycling through the main Downing Street gate, instead directing him to the smaller pedestrian gate. He is reported to have used foul language and told the officer at the gates to "learn your place" and "you don't run this government". 'Complete denial' The officer concerned reported the incident to his superiors and the official police log, which appeared to contradict Mr Mitchell's story, was later leaked to the media. David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch Michael Dugher, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mr Mitchell came under intense pressure from the Police Federation - which represents rank-and-file officers - and which refused to accept his version of events. The MP stayed away from the Conservative Party conference in an attempt to defuse the row, but despite the support of backbench Tory MPs it became clear when Parliament returned from recess on Monday that it was not going to go away. Mr Mitchell's fate is believed to have been sealed on Wednesday, when deputy chief whip John Randall reportedly had to be talked out of quitting in protest at his determination to cling on, following a stormy prime minister's question time.

In his letter of reply to Mr Mitchell, Mr Cameron said he "understood" why Mr Mitchell was resigning, adding: "I regret this has become necessary." Shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher, for Labour, said: "After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure. "What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Mr Mitchell did was wrong, the prime minister totally failed to act. "David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Mr Mitchell only for his chief whip to bow to the inevitable given the understandable public anger." 'Honesty and integrity' Nick Robinson said the fight had gone out of Mr Mitchell, who was considered to be a fighter and a former soldier who loved political scrapping. Our correspondent said he had fallen victim to the persistence of the Labour Party - "who portrayed him as all that was worst about the government, symbolising one rule for those at the top and one for everyone else" - and the Police Federation who were fighting the government over cuts and reform. Somebody lost his temper. Frankly, big deal.

All sorts of people lose their temper in their daily lives, it's part of human nature Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative MP "In the end he fell victim to his past behaviour, with too few people prepared to defend him, the tough guy paid for just being too tough", he added. Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said: "It is not good to see anyone fall from public office but the decision by the prime minister to accept Andrew Mitchell's resignation seemed almost inevitable. "Andrew Mitchell has apologised to our Metropolitan Police colleague and our colleague has accepted the apology. We hope this matter is now closed." Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said the incident had been "hugely exaggerated". "Somebody lost his temper. Frankly, big deal. All sorts of people lose their temper in their daily lives, it's part of human nature. To blow this up into a resignation issue has been rather unfortunate and actually trivialises politics when there are many important things going on," he told BBC's Newsnight. Mr Mitchell told our correspondent he will seek to deliver a personal resignation statement in the Commons early next week.

The new chief whip, Sir George Young, was thought to have retired to the backbenches after giving up his position as leader of the House of Commons in September's reshuffle. The Tory grandee, who went to Eton and became an MP in 1974, had held the post since 2010, but was replaced by former health secretary, Andrew Lansley. Sir George has some experience of the government whips office, serving there in 1990 and also acting as an opposition whip under Margaret Thatcher before she became prime minister in 1979. During the 1980s and 1990s, he held a range of ministerial positions, including transport secretary in 1995.

Plebgate MP Andrew Mitchell called officer a 'little s**t', claim court documents 'exposing ex-Chief Whip's 'record of abusing police' | The Independent Plebgate MP Andrew Mitchell called officer a 'little s**t', claim court documents 'exposing ex-Chief Whip's 'record of abusing police' 'More than a dozen incidents' dating back to 2005 outlined by Sun's lawyers in libel case Saturday 20 September 2014 23:00 BST Click to follow Indy Politics A CCTV image of Andrew Mitchell at Downing Street on 19 September 2012 PA The former cabinet minister at the centre of the Plebgate row has a history of foul-mouthed confrontations with police officers at Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament, the High Court will hear. The allegations are contained in court documents presented by The Sun newspaper in its libel defence against Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell. The former government chief whip is suing News Group Newspapers Limited, the owner of The Sun, for alleging that he called police officers “plebs” during an argument at the gates of Downing Street in September 2012.

Mr Mitchell has admitted swearing during the incident but rejects claims that he swore at the officer. He has also consistently denied calling officers “plebs”. Mr Mitchell was forced to resign in October 2012, but CCTV footage later emerged which cast doubt on the police officers’ version of events. Now new allegations paint a picture of a history of rude and abusive behaviour by the former minister over a seven-year period. The most serious allegation in the defence document is that Mr Mitchell called a police officer a “little shit” after he called for the then minister to stop as he was approaching a barrier at the Black Rod’s Garden entrance to the Palace of Westminster in November 2005. M r Mitchell is alleged to have responded to the officer’s request by saying, “I’m a member of parliament and I’m too important to stop for you.” When the officer responded that he “didn’t care” who Mr Mitchell was, the MP reportedly said, “Stop being so aggressive, you little shit.” The court documents detail more than a dozen alleged incidents from 2005 until 2012.

They include instances when Mr Mitchell is alleged to have been unable to produce the correct identification to enter Downing Street, refused to allow his car to be searched when entering the Palace of Westminster, and tailgated cyclists to enter a restricted area without being stopped for a search. They also draw fellow Conservative Minister Ian Duncan Smith MP into the row; they allege that Mr Mitchell twice relied on Mr Duncan Smith to vouch for him in order to gain entry to Downing Street following confrontations with police officers. The documents also allege that, while in Kenya as Secretary of State for International Development in 2011, Mr Mitchell stated that he “should be treated like royalty” and launched a “foul-mouthed tirade” questioning the actions of his accompanying police protection unit.

In pictures: The Plebgate saga In pictures: The Plebgate saga 1/4 Plebgate Inspector Ken MacKaill, Sgt Chris Jones and Detective Sgt Stuart Hinton deny lying Getty Andrew Mitchell and his wife, Dr Sharon Bennett, leaving a press conference about Plebgate PA 3/4 Plebgate CCTV images outside the gate appear to contradict the police log, which says 'several' members of the public were there Channel 4/Dispatches A CCTV image of Andrew Mitchell at Downing Street on 19 September 2012 PA In Westminster his behaviour at Downing Street and the Palace of Westminster is alleged to have been so poor that incident reports by “senior management” allegedly described him as a “repeat offender” who had “scant regards for security measures”. During a meeting in 2010 with John Groves, the head of security in the Prime Minister’s Office, he reportedly said police “should have fucking well known” who he was.

On 18 September 2012, a day before the now-famous Plebgate incident, he is reported to have told a police officer at the contested Downing Street main gate that “I am the Government Chief Whip and I want to leave via these gates”. Mr Mitchell’s libel case against The Sun newspaper comes after CCTV emerged that put the police version of events in doubt. An investigation carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission earlier this year found evidence of “collusion” by police officers over the incident. In February, PC Keith Wallis was sentenced to 12 months in prison for lying about having witnessed the row.

Mr Mitchell was unavailable for comment yesterday, but in an email his lawyer, Graham Atkins, said: “Mr Mitchell’s Amended Reply is shortly to be filed at court and this responds to each allegation in detail.” Police accused of lying over MP Andrew Mitchell 'plebgate' affair Police accused of lying over MP Andrew Mitchell 'plebgate' affair Pin it Share Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell is suing News Group Newspapers over the so-called "plebgate" report (AFP Photo/Dan Kitwood) More London (AFP) - Police officers spun a "web of lies, deceit and indiscipline" that led to a vitriolic press campaign against former chief whip Andrew Mitchell, a court heard on Monday. Mitchell is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) for libel after The Sun reported that he had shouted abuse at police when blocked from leaving Downing Street on his bicycle in 2012. Mitchell admits swearing, but denies losing his temper and calling the officers "plebs" and "morons". His lawyer James Price said the paper's account of the incident was "wholly false" and the words ascribed to him were a "gross caricature of an attitude of mind which has been out of date for decades".

"This web of lies, deceit and indiscipline, and by police officers, led to Mr Mitchell and his family being subjected to an extremely unpleasant, indeed vitriolic, press campaign and a good deal of hostility from the public who believed what they had read in the press," he told High Court judge John Mitting, who is hearing the case without a jury. "It also placed him in a position where he required considerable determination and, above all, confidence in the rightness of his position, to stand by his account of events." In his witness statement to the court, Mitchell admitted "sometimes using bad language" but said: "To the best of my recollection, I have never called anybody a 'pleb'... let alone a policeman." "It just isn't a word I use," he added. NGN argues that the article was substantially true, with its case centred on an account given by PC Toby Rowland, a diplomatic protection officer who was guarding the main Downing Street gate when the confrontation occurred. Rowland issued Mitchell with a verbal warning, saying he would be arrested if it happened again. In a separate case, the officer is suing Mitchell over statements he made to the media.

The case could determine the political future of the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, who resigned as whip a month after the incident. Reblog How Tories turned on Andrew Mitchell and forced him to quit - Telegraph Conservative How Tories turned on Andrew Mitchell and forced him to quit Andrew Mitchell was forced to resign as the Government’s chief whip when whole sections of the Conservative party turned on him because of the “damage” he was doing to the party’s standing with voters, The Sunday Telegraph has learned. Image 1 of 2 Mitchell resigns over ‘plebgate’ – Channel 4 News Politics , UK Mitchell resigns over ‘plebgate’ Government Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell submits to police pressure and resigns, after admitting he swore during a confrontation with police officers at Downing Street. Share on Twitter The resignation comes after a row involving Mr Mitchell swearing at police dragged on for weeks, with the beleagured MP failing to draw a line under the scandal that emerged after he allegedly swore at police. In his resignation letter Mr Mitchell again claimed he had not called a police officer a “pleb” or “moron” or “any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me”.

He went on to admit it was wrong to use bad language to the police and thank the prime minister for the opportunities provided to him. Mr Mitchell claimed he said “I thought you guys were supposed to f****** help us”. Prime Minister Cameron wrote in a letter accepting the resignation “I understand why you have reached the conclusion you have.” “As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it.” Sir George Young will now take over as chief whip, Downing Street has confirmed. The Police Federation and Labour were among those calling for the minister to go as pressure intensified on him. There were also heated clashes in parliament on Wednesday. Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever said: “It is not good to see anyone fall from public office but the decision by the prime minister to accept Andrew Mitchell’s resignation seemed almost inevitable. “Andrew Mitchell has apologised to our Metropolitan Police colleague and our colleague has accepted the apology. We hope this matter is now closed.” The incident in September allegedly saw Mr Mitchell swear at police officers stationed at Downing Street, after they stopped him leaving through the main entrance gate with his bicycle.

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said Mr Mitchell’s resignation “seemed almost inevitable”. Labour said Mr Mitchell should have gone earlier and questioned the Prime Minister’s judgment in allowing him to remain place. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Michael Dugher said: “What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Andrew Mitchell did was wrong, the Prime Minister totally failed to act. “David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Andrew Mitchell only for his chief whip to bow to the inevitable, given the understandable public anger.” Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This is a sensible decision by Andrew Mitchell. It is very unfortunate that David Cameron allowed this to drag on so long rather than investigate and resolve it at the start.

“Letting it carry on like this sent a very bad signal to the police and public servants across the country about the government’s attitude.” Warks police chief slams ‘inept’ IPCC after ‘plebgate’ officer cleared | The Stratford Observer Warks police chief slams ‘inept’ IPCC after ‘plebgate’ officer cleared Stratford Editorial 3rd Feb, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016 WARWICKSHIRE’S police chief has hit out at the ‘inept’ Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after the officer from Warwickshire at the centre of the ‘plebgate’ scandal was cleared of giving misleading accounts of the incident. A Public Misconduct Hearing determined on Wednesday (February 3) that the allegations against Warwickshire Police Sergeant Stuart Hinton are not proven. Warwickshire Police Crime Commissioner Ron Ball criticised the IPCC for being repeatedly proved wrong during its investigation, describing it as a “sorry saga that has taken far too much time and leaves very few people of those involved with any credit”. He said: “I have previously described the ‘Plebgate’ affair as a national embarrassment and I stand by that view.

“DS Hinton has been subjected to an overly-lengthy process before the allegations were found to be not proven. “The IPCC’s judgements concerning this case have been inept from start to finish. “This whole process could have been completed years ago, saving vast amounts of money. Instead, the costs of all of this have been massive and the public have been left with serious questions about the credibility and competence of the very body which is expensively funded to resolve just these sorts of issues. “Unfortunately, there are police and crime commissioners and chief constables the length and breadth of the country questioning the governance and oversight of the IPCC, asking to whom is it answerable? How can we be sure that the watchdog is doing its job effectively? “This whole affair has been an embarrassment from start to finish, yet I see no evidence of red faces from the IPCC. There should be.” Detective Superintendent Gary Watson, Head of Professional Standards for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police said: “The force welcomes external scrutiny and accepts the decision of the independent panel today. This matter has been the subject of the most intense scrutiny and we are pleased that the due process has now been concluded.” The outcome of the Misconduct Hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.

The outcomes of misconduct proceedings are published quarterly on the Warwickshire Police website. Visit —Forthcoming-public-misconduct-hearings for more information. The notorious ‘plebgate’ incident, which occurred in September 2012, concerned an altercation between Conservative MP and then Government Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell and the police in Downing Street. It was alleged Mitchell swore at police and called them ‘plebs’ when they refused to open the main gate for him. Mitchell apologised but denied using the words claimed. However, his position became untenable and he resigned from office a month later. Andrew Mitchell resigns – as it happened | Politics | The Guardian Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell resigns – as it happened Downing Street has announced that the chief whip, who had been accused of calling a police officer a 'pleb', has resigned Andrew Mitchell, the chief whip, has resigned. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Friday 19 October 2012 15.51 EDT First published on Friday 19 October 2012 15.51 EDT 8.46pm BST Summary Well that was a tour de force of the political cycle.

In a brief hour or two we've gone from resignation, to the publication of the exchange of resignation letters and the announcement of a replacement. To recap: After being plagued by the scandal of 'plebgate' for four weeks, Andrew Mitchell, the government's chief whip, has resigned. In his letter of resignation Mitchell denied using the 'pleb' barb. A new replacement has been announced in the figure of Sir George Young - an old Etonian. 8.35pm BST I guess it is just that kind of day... Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) Frantically meeting Mitchell deadline on St Pancras platform when charming Ed Miliband stops for chat. Said unless resigning, bit busy. Perhaps the new whip hasn't got a knack for PR... HeardinLondon (@HeardinLondon) Folk asking where I got that photo of Sir George Young, his children & Jimmy Savile?

Erm, from his own website sirgeorgeyoung.org.uk/pages/biog3.htm 8.26pm BST More naysaying about the Young appointment but this time from the Tory MP Nadine Dorries who tweets: Nadine Dorries MP (@NadineDorriesMP) I love George Young, he is the nicest man but totally 100% loyal to Cameron and the Government a party first no matter what at all costs man 8.23pm BST Further reaction from our lobby correspondent , Patrick Wintour who writes: Andrew Percy, the Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole who called for Mitchell to stand down, said that the decision of Mitchell was the right one. "I represent a northern constituency and this played in to the untrue stereotypes of the Conservative Party. “The biggest issue was the failure to say what was said that evening. The fact that the words were denied but no alternative given was an unsatisfactory explanation,” he said.

8.20pm BST That 'new chief whip with Jimmy Savile' advert in full: Alan Evans (@itsalanevans) 8.18pm BST Labour response This from Patrick Wintour who reports that Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister, Michael Dugher, said Mr Mitchell should have resigned earlier: After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure. What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Andrew Mitchell did was wrong, the Prime Minister totally failed to act," he said. David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Andrew Mitchell only for his Chief Whip to bow to the inevitable, given the understandable public anger. Updated So hesitations and worries over Young's appointment have already appeared. Tim Stanley (@timothy_stanley) David Cameron has replaced a minister accused of snobbery with ... an Etonian. And Cameron was in PR?! And then there's also this.... Er.... Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) Oops. According to Wiki, new Chief Whip and his children appeared in poster with Jimmy Savile ...to promote British Rail. Copy anyone?

October 19, 2012 HeardinLondon (@HeardinLondon) The one in the middle is Tory Sir George Young, the new Chief Whip, with his children. twitpic.com/b5ley4 And just to top it off: JamesLyons (@MirrorJames) Sir George Young? A man dumped as Leader of the House just weeks ago? Extraordinary. And he rides a bike. PM's letter to Mitchell In his reply letter to Mitchell, the PM writes: Thank you for your letter. I was sorry to receive it but I understand why you have reacdhed the conclusion you have, and why you have decided to resign from the government. I regret that this has become necessary, and am very grateful for all you have done, both in the Government and in the Opposition- as well as for the kind words in your letter. I am in no doubt that your work in the field of international development has made a rally important contribution – not only to the Conservative Party, but more importantly to Britain's standing in the world, and above all to the international efforts to tackle deep and sustained poverty. You brought real passion to the job in Opposition, which you turned into more than two years of very successful work in Government....

As we discussed in advance of the reshuffle, I wanted you to bring your organisational skill and energy to the important job of Chief Whip. It was clear to me that you had already made a strong start. As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it. You have much to be proud of from your service on the Frontbench both in Opposition and in Government, and in your continued service to your constituents in Sutton Coldfield. I hope that, in time, you will be able to make a further contribution to public life. Yours, David. 7.23pm BST Police Federation response to resignation The Police Federation who previously took up the complaint against Mitchell on behalf of their officer have given comment. Speaking on Sky News, Simon Payne chairman of the Warwickshire Police Federation said: I think all we've ever wanted in the truth and all our members want is honesty and the truth. This story could have gone away four weeks ago. We all lose our temper from time to time but normally we apologise for it. But then we move on. And we'd wanted to move on for weeks.... This problem is not of our making.

It is squarely at the governments' foot and it's ended with the right decision finally, which is the resignation of Andrew Mitchell. Updated The Telegraph's Benedict Brogan speaks here about the Tory deputy chief whip John Randall who, as political blogger Guido Fawkes first exposed , had threatened to resign if Andrew Mitchell did not "jump". Updated at 7.10pm BST 7.01pm BST For background, our chief political correspondent Nicholas Watt wrote a very interesting profile of Mitchell back in the heady days of September as plebgate has erupting. Here's an extract: Andrew Mitchell has the air of a character out of Tory central casting. With his clipped officer's accent and boyish looks, Mitchell would not look out of place next to Bertie Wooster in the Drones Club. Unlike PG Wodehouse's bumbling character, the Conservative chief whip is no lightweight, intellectually or politically. He amassed a fortune working as a director at the investment bank Lazard before the last election and played a central role in helping to detoxify the Tory brand in five years as shadow international development secretary. Mitchell, 56, does, however, have two character flaws.

These explain why he ran into difficulty at the Downing Street security gates last Wednesday evening and why he is taking time to remove the cloud above him. While Mitchell can be immensely charming, he has a short temper, as the armed police officers found out when they declined to open the security gates to allow him to leave on his bike. He can also fix opponents with a withering look and has been known to make the odd caustic remark. Mitchell's qualities – charm, brains and a mischievous sense of humour – have served him well in his 20 years in parliament. But his flaws, including an ability to make enemies, mean there is no shortage of Tory MPs lapping up every moment of his battle with the police. Updated 6.57pm BST Mitchell's resignation letter to the PM Here's an excerpt from the letter and once again, Mitchell as per his previous comments denies the majority of his alleged comments made to the officer on that day. It is with enormous regret – not least because of the tremendous support and loyalty you have shown me during recent weeks – that I am writing to resign as your Chief Whip.

Over the last two days it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfill my duties as we would both wish,. Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity. I have made clear to you – and I give you my categorical assurance again – that I did not, never have and never would call a police officer a “pleb” or a “moron” or used any of the other pejorative description attributed to me. The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark “I thought you guys were supposed to f***cking help us”. It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology. Updated Andrew Mitchell loses libel action over 'Plebgate' incident - ITV News 27 November 2014 at 3:33pm Andrew Mitchell loses libel action over 'Plebgate' incident Former Government chief whip Andrew Mitchell has lost his High Court libel action over the "Plebgate" incident.

Former Cabinet minister and Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell must accept the verdict of the High Court on the "Plebgate" libel action and move on, David Cameron has said. David Cameron was delivering a speech on immigration in Staffordshire Credit: ITV News The Prime Minister insisted it was "never right to be abusive or rude" to a police officer and said the judge had "made very clear his verdict". Mr Justice Mitting decided that the former chief whip did call Pc Toby Rowland a "pleb" because the officer did not have the "wit, imagination or inclination" to invent it. Asked about the outcome of the case after he made a keynote speech in Staffordshire on immigration, Mr Cameron said: "On the issue of Andrew Mitchell, I mean, let me be clear - it is never right to be abusive or rude to a police officer. I think that is extremely important. "But, look, we've had a court case now. That's how we do things in this country.

"The judge has made very clear his verdict and I think everyone should accept that verdict and move on." Andrew Mitchell is the MP for Sutton Coldfield Credit: PA Mr Justice Mitting said he had reached the "firm conclusion" that the 58-year-old MP used the "politically-toxic" word "pleb" in Downing Street in September 2012 when he was not allowed to cycle through the main vehicle gates. Mr Mitchell, who resigned as whip a month after the altercation, vehemently denied this during his two-week libel action against News Group Newspapers. 'Plebgate' PC: 'Pain' of High Court case 'indescribable' The police officer at the centre of the Plebgate row has said the "pain" of going through the courts "has been indescribable" after a judge found in his favour over Andrew Mitchell. Speaking outside the High Court, PC Toby Rowland said he had "huge regret" that "what happened at the gates of Downing Street more than two years ago ended up here". PC Toby Rowland pointed out he had already been cleared of wrongdoing in the Plebgate incident by four investigations, including a criminal one.

Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire He said he and his team had tried "everything possible" to avoid court action. "I am delighted that here again my innocence, integrity and reputation as a police officer has been recognised," he added. PC Rowland also called for a "line to be drawn" over the incident. Police Federation 'pleased' with 'Plebgate' verdict The Police Federation of England and Wales has said it is "pleased" Mr Justice Mitting has ruled in PC Toby Rowland's favour after Andrew Mitchell lost his High Court libel action over the "Plebgate incident". Toby's name has been cleared and his integrity restored. Toby has conducted himself with dignity and professionalism in relation to this incident and subsequent inquiries and legal cases. It is important that this incident is now brought to a close to allow Toby and his family to look to the future. – Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales PC Rowland sued Andrew Mitchell for libel over statements accusing him of fabricating the alleged verbal abuse at Downing Street in 2012.

Former government chief whip Mitchell lost his libel action against News Group Newspapers over The Sun's reporting of the "Plebgate" incident. Mitchell 'bitterly disappointed' after 'miserable two years' Former Government chief whip Andrew Mitchell has said he is "bitterly disappointed" to have lost his High Court libel action over the "Plebgate" incident. Andrew Mitchell was surrounded by his family and friends as he delivered his brief statement outside the High Court. Speaking outside the High Court, Mr Mitchell said the verdict came after a "miserable two years". The MP, who has been ordered to pay interim costs of £300,000, said he now wanted to "bring this matter to a close and and get on with our lives". After the ruling PC Toby Rowland said he hoped a "line can be drawn and everyone can be left in peace". Judge: PC lacked the 'wit' to make up 'Plebgate' claim The police officer in the Plebgate incident lacked the "wit, imagination or inclination" to make up the exchange with Andrew Mitchell, Mr Justice Mitting has said.

The judge's ruling rejected the allegation there was collusion by the officers on the Downing Street gate following the row with the then-chief whip. Andrew Mitchell's 27-year career in politics suffered a huge blow when the Plebgate claims emerged. Credit: PA Mr Justice Mitting said PC Rowland was "not the sort of man who would have had the wit, imagination or inclination to invent on the spur of the moment an account of what a senior politician had said to him in temper".

Question: Which Conservative MP resigned as Government Chief Whip after the 'Plebgate' incident?
Answer: Andrew Mitchell